News

Care worker stole from ‘vulnerable’ man

Published

12 years ago

January 23, 2014

A WOMAN from Milford Haven appeared in Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday after stealing £9,831.99 from a man she was caring for.

Laura Jane Nichols, aged 26, of Vale Court, Houghton, wept as she pleaded guilty to the offence.

Prosecuting, Ellie Morgan said: “Nichols was employed as a team leader at Elliot’s Hill Care Home. The victim is a 41-year-old man with learning difficulties. He is unable to manage his finances and is cared for 24 hours a day. Nichols had full control over his finances as he would not be able to use a cash machine and would not be able to remember his pin number. His card was kept in a tin at the care home and Nichols was the only person who used his account.

“A bank statement arrived for the victim that showed he was overdrawn. Nichols’ manager, Tom Hales retrieved previous bank statements and found numerous withdrawals. Some were in Pembrokeshire and others in Cardiff. Some transactions were made at 3am, which could not have possibly been the patient.

“The patient sometimes visits his family in France. Withdrawals were made whilst he was visiting them. No other member of staff had any involvement. Copies of his statement were given to the police who have taken steps to reimburse him.

“She said she was paying bill and loans and was using the victim’s money to save hers”.

Defence solicitor, Jonathan Webb said: “Nichols pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and has been on bail since April last year. In that time, she has been dismissed from Elliot’s Care Home and has found alternative employment. She told her employers about the situation, who have said: “I hope to continue to employ Laura”.

“At the time, Nichols was holding down two jobs; one at the care home and one at the Bristol Trader. She had moved out and was trying to live her own life, but had financial difficulty. Nichols had been known to work 105 hours in one week.

“Nichols suffers from depression and anxiety, and had suffered from Guillain-Barré syndrome as a child, which affects the nervous system. Due to the depression, Nichols buried her head in the sand.

“Nichols had taken out money for a laptop for the victim, but they couldn’t get the one they wanted. Nichols looked after the money, though later put it towards her rent. This was like the first shot of heroin for a drug addict. She wasn’t living it up every weekend and didn’t have an easy job. She was suffering from a mental health issue, though we are not trying to minimise it, it is as bad as it seems.

“I think that you can accept jurisdiction. You can make a file that states she is being given credit for her early guilty plea by keeping it here. She needs help”.

The chair of the bench told the court: “There are so many aggravating features. This is financial abuse of a vulnerable person and nothing justifies that. We have made the decision that the reports will be referred to the Crown Court. Financial abuse of a very vulnerable person is not only breaching the trust of the victim, it is breaching the trust of the employer over a nine months period”.

Nichols was released on conditional bail on the condition that she is not allowed to contact directly or indirectly the victim and must co-operate with probation. Nichols will appear at Swansea Crown Court on February 7.

Crime

Teenager charged following rape allegation at Saundersfoot nightclub

Published

1 hour ago

December 17, 2025

Staff Writer

Incident reported at Sands Nightclub in early hours of Sunday

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is investigating an allegation of rape following an incident reported at Sands Nightclub in Saundersfoot in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

An 18-year-old man was arrested after officers were called to the venue, which is a popular late-night spot in the seaside village. The allegation relates to events said to have taken place during the early hours of the morning.

Joshua Probert, aged 18, has since been charged with one count of rape. He has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Dec 18).

The complainant is entitled to lifelong anonymity under law, and no further details about the allegation can be reported at this stage.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that enquiries are ongoing. Officers are understood to have carried out initial investigative work shortly after the report was made, including speaking to witnesses.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Anyone affected by sexual assault or rape can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, run by Rape Crisis England & Wales, on 0808 500 2222. Calls are free and confidential.

Local Government

Mayor visits Milford Haven Library Christmas event

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE MAYOR of Milford Haven, Cllr William Elliott, paid a visit to Milford Haven Library on Tuesday morning to attend its festive Mince Pie and a Cuppa event.

The event brought together library staff and local residents, with the Mayor thanking staff for their work supporting the community throughout the year. During the visit, Cllr Elliott also spent time speaking with residents who had come along to the event or were visiting the library to borrow books.

Milford Haven Library is part of the Pembrokeshire Libraries service, which provides access to books, information, and community activities across the county.

The Mayor wished residents a Merry Christmas at the close of his visit.

Crime

Milford Haven man jailed after drunken attack on partner and police officers

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

A MILFORD HAVEN man who launched a violent drunken assault on his partner before attacking two police officers has been jailed for three years and six months.

Alexander Campbell was sentenced on Wednesday (Dec 16) at Swansea Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard that Campbell had been in a relationship with his partner, Miss Cox, for six years. On the night of the offence, he returned home highly intoxicated and became argumentative.

***Alexander Campbell was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court, with the judge describing him as a “cowardly bully.”***

Prosecutor Rieve Nesbitt-Marr told the court that Miss Cox advised Campbell to go upstairs and sleep off the alcohol. Instead, he began poking her and told her not to tell him what to do.

Campbell then launched what Miss Cox described as “a flurry of punches that rained down on her.”

Neighbours contacted police after hearing the disturbance. When officers arrived, they found a smashed bowl on the floor and Miss Cox lying on the sofa under a blanket, covering her face.

Body-worn camera footage played in court showed Campbell threatening officers, telling them: “I will turn this place into a f***ing murder scene.”

As officers attempted to separate the parties, PC Thomas placed her arm out to create distance. Campbell grabbed her wrist with force, an assault captured on body-worn video.

He then attacked PC Jones, climbing on top of him and punching him repeatedly, again recorded on police body-worn footage.

PC Thomas later attended Withybush Hospital, where she received four stitches under local anaesthetic. Miss Cox suffered severe facial bruising, with one eye swollen almost shut.

The court was told that Miss Cox’s ten-year-old daughter was upstairs at the property during the incident.

Campbell has 27 previous offences. In mitigation, the court heard that he accepted alcohol turned him into a different person, telling the court: “I’m an ugly person when I drink. I’m a different person when I’m sober.”

Sentencing Campbell, the judge said he knew better than anyone how alcohol affected him.

“You came home in a bad mood and almost predictively, you assaulted her,” the judge said.
“The noise and aggression was such that the neighbour called the police.”
“You gave her a bruise on her face that can only be described as a large shiner.”
“In short, you have injured three people. Your conduct was utterly pathetic, like an overgrown child.”

The judge also referred to Campbell’s violent history, describing him as a “cowardly bully.”

While acknowledging that Campbell had previously complied well with a suspended sentence after removing his own alcohol tag, the judge said custody was unavoidable.

Campbell was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the remainder on licence.

Warning him about his future, the judge added: “If you carry on with this behaviour you will spend a lifetime in prison. The only person who can change this is you.”

The court also granted a restraining order for five years.